Tanzania’s smallest national park is
best known for its famous chimpanzees. Study on these primates started as early
as 1960 by Jane Good all. The research at Gombe Stream National Park was ground
breaking and drew a lot of attention to Jane Good all and the chimpanzees. The
chimps showed many behavioral patterns previously only accredited to humans
such as the use of tools, rational thought and emotions very similar to ours. Good
all also observed the primates hunting bush pigs and Colobus monkeys,
disproving the assumption that chimpanzees are mostly vegetarian. The chimps
also proved to be quite violent among themselves with bloody and sometimes
lethal fights for dominance or between groups. Overall good all’s research drew
a much more realistic picture of man’s closest relatives. The research centre
founded in 1965 still does research on chimpanzees and is now run by local
scientists, while Jane Good all visits Gombe Stream National Park on an annual
basis. The park itself covers mountain slopes covered in thick forest that lead
down to the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. Deep gorges and sandy beaches
characterize this remote and untouched habitat. Gombe Streams National Park is
only accessible by boat and visitor will move through the park on foot.

Wildlife

Gombe is mostly known for its
chimpanzees and tracking these primates is the park’s main attraction. The park
is also home to a troop of beach combing olive baboons as well as red-tailed Colobus
monkeys and vervet monkeys. Bush pigs search the ground for food and
occasionally hippopotamus or leopard can be seen. Lake Tanganyika is the
world’s second largest lake in volume and supports more than 250 indigenous
species of cichlid fish. About 100 of these colorful fish can be seen close to
the shores of Gombe National Park. The majestic fish eagle, Peters’ twin spot
and roughly 200 other bird species are found in Gombe.

Activities

The chimpanzees move through Gombe
in search of food and tracking them is not always easy. Nightly nests and
discarded foods give the guides hints as to where to find the primates. As you
get close you might hear the primates calling from the canopy of the montane
forest. As the movements of the animals are not always predictable you should
give yourself at least two days to guarantee sightings. Chimpanzees share well
over 90% of their genetic code with humans and observers often find that the
primates’ behavior resonates with them on a deeper level. Visitors can also
hike and explore the forest and its steep gorges. Snorkeling and swimming in
one of the world’s cleanest lakes is a paradisiacal experience. Lake Tanganyika
is home to a wealth of colorful indigenous fish and has inspired many domestic
aquariums.